Great Canadian Entertainment Sells Elements Casino Surrey to Semiahmoo First Nation

^{Elements Casino Surrey in British Columbia. Great Canadian Entertainment has sold off the casino to the Semiahmoo First Nation. (Photo: Adrian Brown / Sipa USA)}

Great Canadian Entertainment continued the selloff of its British Columbia properties on Monday, announcing that the Semiahmoo First Nation will purchase Elements Casino Surrey from the gaming firm.

The sale has been approved by Great Canadian Entertainment's board of directors, though approvals by the City of Surrey and regulatory authorities are still pending.

Semiahmoo First Nation Sees Economic Opportunity in Casino Purchase

The Semiahmoo First Nation, which has roots in the shores of the Semiahmoo Bay, currently operates from a community near White Rock and Surrey. Tribal leaders say adding the casino, located an hour from Vancouver, to its portfolio is an important economic step for their community.

Semiamoo First Nation Chief Harley Chappell said the new venture will create job opportunities in the region and support the community's long-term well-being.

“This acquisition represents an important step forward in strengthening economic opportunity for Semiahmoo First Nation and reaffirming our presence within our traditional territory as a strong and capable business entity,” Semiahmoo First Nation Chief Harley Chappell said in a statement. 

The purchase was made by the SE-MI-AH-MU Development Corporation, the economic development arm of the Semiahmoo First Nation. Great Canadian has agreed to provide transition services for up to one year after the sale of the casino is closed.

Great Canadian Continues Selling BC Properties

This transaction is the latest in a string of sales by Great Canadian Entertainment to First Nations groups in British Columbia. 

Prior sales have included Elements Casino Chilliwack, sold to the Ts’elxwéyeqw Group, and Hastings Racecourse & Casino, sold to the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.

“Today’s announcement marks the eighth agreement we have executed with BC-based First Nations or the sale of our BC operations,” Great Canadian CEO Matt Anfinson said in a statement. 

“We are thrilled that the Semiahmoo First Nation is eager to enter the province’s casino sector with the purchase of Elements Casino Surrey. Our next step will be to continue to work with the SE-MI-AH-MU team to timely close this transaction and then work with SE-MI-AH-MU and the Elements Casino Surrey team members for long-term success.”

At one time, Great Canadian Entertainment owned as many as nine casinos in British Columbia, where the company first began operations in 1982. However, the company has unloaded nearly all of its BC portfolio since 2023. 

Great Canadian still operates casinos across Canada in 23 cities and towns, including the Great Canadian Casino Resort in Toronto.

Elements Casino Surrey wasn’t the largest casino in Great Canadian’s collection, but it has received international attention. In 2025, the Responsible Gambling Council ranked the Surrey casino second in the world for its responsible gambling practices.